[solved] PL question: should I comment on breath noises?

[JoannaHoyt]

I'm looking to start proof listening. I read the Guide for Proof-listeners, and I understand that a PL should comment on skips, repeats, background noises, incomprehensible words, etc, and should not comment on reading style. What about breath noises between phrases--is it appropriate or inappropriate to mention these? Thanks.

Joanna

[TriciaG]

I say no - unless they're so loud, it sounds like an asthmatic rhinoceros. Even then I don't.

Breathing is natural. Sometimes I purposely ADD breath noises!

[knotyouraveragejo]

I agree, generally breath noises are not noted in standard PL. In my personal recordings, I remove some (so it doesn't sound like I am gasping for air after every other sentence), but I leave them where it sounds natural to take a breath. I do however generally significantly reduce the volume of breaths compared to the the rest of the recording. The listener wants to hear the story, not me breathing...

However, as Tricia said above, breathing in our recordings is normal. Along with pacing and emphasis, it's what distinguishes an actual person reading from a synthesized computer voice.

[JoannaHoyt]

Thank you both very much! That was what I needed to know.

(I hadn't realized quite how loudly I breathed until I started recording for LibriVox. That's especially true at the end of a long sentence that didn't have an obvious breath-stop in it...)